TDM #4

[apocalypsehowmods]

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➥ Arrival

(cw: potential for severe disorientation/vertigo, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, body horror)

It happens in the blink of an eye. You may have been asleep. You may not have. You may have stepped through a door or turned a corner. You may have seen a flicker of something at the corner of your vision and turned to look. Or maybe you didn't.

It doesn't matter. What matters is that you find yourself somewhere entirely new and entirely unfamiliar. The arrival point is not always the same. (If you're lucky, it might be a canteen or an open office. If you're not, well... you aren't claustrophobic, are you? Or arachnophobic. These ducts do seem to be a bit cobwebby.) There is no one waiting for you but you don’t seem to be alone, either. Even in a janitor’s closet or the bathroom, you’ll find at least one person who seems to be just as out of place as you are.

If characters have arrived in a location devoid of NPCs, they may want to work together to figure out what is going on... or to avoid their 'kidnappers.' If you’ve arrived in the middle of the entry foyer or the gym, there may well be a few people who startle a bit at your arrival and try to approach (or discreetly leave the room... where are they going?). Will you cooperate or fight? Do you even understand what they're saying? You might need to find a translator, if you’re not immediately willing to follow a stranger.

After characters follow their new hosts (or are forcibly taken in) there will be a limited tour and the chance to settle in at the ADI-provided housing. (Do you enjoy living with strangers? Well. It's a new situation to navigate, anyway.)

➥ Toying With You

(cw: creepy toys, possible violence, supernaturally induced emotions)

Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. The Apocalypse Disruption Initiative (ADI) is not above taking advantage of that to test out the waters for its newest arrivals. They're not looking to send anyone to their death, though. That's far too much paperwork, you'd been assured with a wink from the employee who'd directed you to the park trailhead. You've been left with another person. Maybe they're a new arrival, as well, or a more seasoned 'veteran.' Either way, you're together for the next while and you've been asked to find and record any paranormal activity in the park. You have your phones and any other equipment you might have brought with you. Those who succeed in documenting anything peculiar will receive a $100 reward to be used as they see fit.

This month...characters who enter the area will eventually stumble upon...a very interesting sight. Take enough confusing, branching paths, and they’ll find a variety of toys abandoned in...a variety of ways.

Some, reminiscent of the happenings of the past month, can be found dangling from branches, or from contraptions of sticks and string staked into the ground. Others might be found arranged in patterns...or simply discarded. Some appear to be tied up. Perhaps surprisingly, there is no evidence of the destruction of these toys. Some may appear to be disintegrating but that’s age, not malice. There are old toys and new toys to be found. Maybe it’s just a prank, or an art installation?

Nothing seems to happen to anyone who ventures to touch the toys. At least...not right away. However, any character who does decide to touch a toy will start to feel like they just don’t have...enough. It might manifest as being particularly possessive over things or people they feel are theirs...or in coveting what they don’t already have (be it material or immaterial). These urges will fade away on their own in time, but who knows what might happen before they do?

➥ Pick a Pocket

(cw: mention of vehicular collisions, supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue)

There is an ethereal music spreading throughout town. It started in the graveyards last month, but now it's spreading, even as collisions and other accidents continue to pile up. Tourists and locals, alike, will find keeping awake incredibly difficult as October rolls in with a rumble of thunder and a splash of rain. Even caffeine doesn't seem to help much with the problem. The music is only just there, just at the edge of awareness, and it's a song that you know. You can't entirely place it, but it's maddeningly familiar.

The local gangs seem to have taken note of the situation, and have taken to sending out their seemingly more resilient members for some mischief. Specifically, pickpocketing those they might find sleeping or less alert than usual. You might be half-falling asleep on a bus when a hand reaches into your pocket or your bag. You might witness the thief in action, stealing from someone else. Or maybe you're someone keen to take advantage of the situation, yourself. There's money to be made for someone with even moderately light fingers when the target is snoring on a park bench or zoning out while sitting at a cafe.

There doesn't seem to be an even effect to the music. It impacts some people in the same vicinity more than others with seemingly no rhyme or reason. The one constant that does appear for those digging deeply, is that ADI HQ and the ADI housing complex seem to be less affected by the music. It can still sometimes be heard, but it's not nearly as prominent as it is throughout the rest of the city.

➥ Sleeper's Paradox

(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, mild memory loss)

For as much as everyone seems to be sleeping lately, it does not seem to be restful sleep. In fact, people dozing off regularly will find themselves even more exhausted and irritable than usual. Again, this seems to be far more pronounced for anyone straying too far from ADI's properties for extended periods.

Another feature of this latest round of supernatural irritation is that even those who tend to remember their dreams may have trouble with that. You might remember that the dreams weren't pleasant, but that's about it. The specifics are as elusive as the source of the singing.

Festive planning for the end-of-the-month Halloween Party is in full swing at ADI, and characters may find themselves strong-armed by Pam and other HR personnel, in spite of any grumpiness and exhaustion, into helping with some part of it. Will you be assisting with making decorations? Buying supplies for the kitchens? Helping those who might not understand Halloween to find the perfect costume? Everyone is feeling a little out of sorts, and having trouble focusing, so there's some particular pushing to spread tasks out to everyone possible so it doesn't fall on a single individual. Anyone who helps will be compensated for their time, and they might even get some extra cash to buy their own fancy costume or preferred food for the party.

➥ Mod Notes

• ARRIVAL (Oct 1 - 31): Two people will always arrive in the same general location together. Arrivals occur throughout the early month, not all on the same day or in the same place. Arrivals are not naturally fluent in English/other languages immediately upon arrival. Characters may attempt to evade capture, but they will eventually be snagged before they can leave the building. PC's already in-game are more than welcome to interact with and try to guide new PC's to get them oriented. Please refer to the Arrival page for details regarding the arrival and onboarding process.
  
  
• Toying With You (Oct 1 - 31): Characters who physically interact with abandoned toys will find themselves overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy and/or possessiveness. Depending on how much interaction they have with the toys, these feelings might be stronger or last longer. (Anyone who, for example, removes a toy from Dogtown will probably find themselves helpless NOT to act on the feelings.) Strength of feeling and duration of time is up to player discretion. The source of these feelings could be anything, including the toys themselves. The toys can be destroyed but are not clumped all in one spot. It may take some searching to find them all.
  
  
• Pick a Pocket (Oct 1- 25): Characters are welcome to experience, enact, or stop a crime. You may find yourself victim, hero, or perpetrator. The number of people asleep or having trouble staying awake will increase the closer you get to graveyards and seem to decrease the closer you get to ADI-owned buildings. The decrease in sleepiness around ADI buildings does not extend to anyone living at Bonnie's. Characters may find themselves falling asleep in the middle of trivial or important tasks, perhaps even in the middle of conversation. This is a supernatural sleep, but for the moment, it seems easy enough to wake someone up with a loud noise or a shake. Or, if you're feeling particularly vindictive, a splash of water to the face.
  
  
• Sleeper's Paradox (Oct 1-25): Characters are welcome to take part in whatever party planning they wish to for ADI's Halloween party. Everyone affected by the drowsiness that's taken over the city will find that they cannot remember the specific nature of their dreams; although, they will have the sense that they did have them, and they were unpleasant. The effects of the fatigue may affect other memories or result in increased irritability, and decreased focus and reaction times. Characters may find themselves more prone to error than usual, even those who are typically known for being on-point at all times.
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Comments

[inutilis]

"My name is Joshua..."

[ not SIR okay it makes it weird... like this isn't weird already, but he is swiping his card again without giving it much thought. his other thumb rapidly moves over the screen of his phone before he is Looking at Ciel again. ]

"Your number? We can, I dunno, talk or something."

[ wow he rly be out here shootin' his shot?? even if it's kind of pitiful...

...sure is taking Abel a long time to pick up this napkin. is it okay if he just lives down here, for now? ]

[septieme]

Employees aren't allowed mobile devices on the floor, I'm sorry... Is it okay if you leave yours on a piece of paper, Joshua?

[She's giving him her best "It Can't Be Helped" consolatory smile as she hands him the receipt, before subtly shifting away from the cash counter to bag him his pumpkin loaf. JUST AN AVERAGE WORK DAY AS A CUTE CAFE WAITRESS/HOSTESS/BARISTA, APPARENTLY,

keep pretending to not exist Abel it's better this way...]

[inutilis]

"Oh... yeah. D'you have a pen, or like..."

[ he takes the receipt and pockets it, and then patiently waits for his coffee and pumpkin loaf and a piece of paper and a pen and-- he needs lots of things all the sudden, huh. poor Joshua is still looking like he could walk right out the door with none of them and his expression wouldn't change.

just Tired Cram Student things. (it's fine, Abel has no problem pretending to struggle... with this napkin... for as long as it takes, apparently--) ]

[septieme]

Okay, just give me a bit~!

[She's gonna go make his coffee he already paid for, and a few minutes later, she'll be coming back with his finished drink, a piece of post-it note, and a pen. She JUST said she wasn't going to lead him on, she's a gal of her word for that much, for better or worse...!]

Here you go, Joshua! [Everything's in order: the paper bagged pumpkin loaf, the plastic cup with his Venti blonde roast, and the pen and paper for him to... leave his number on. All the pieces are assembled...

...]

[inutilis]

[ he is scribbling down his number on the post-it, passing it across the counter and pocketing his phone to grab his stuff. ]

"Yeah, thanks. I gotta study but I'll be around later, if you like... text me... or whatever..."

[ ......the end kind of tapered off, there, and he is just sort of turning to leave, now,

???? uh, okay then?? what in the fuckies,

...is it safe to come out now?? ]

[septieme]

Okay. Thank you for coming by. Enjoy your drink, and have a good day~!

[She waves him off sweetly as if there was absolutely nothing weird about what just happened, not even bothering to check if she was tipped. And she'll stay that way, merely standing and smiling, until he's completely out of the store with the door firmly closed behind him.

...

Depends, is he lingering or is he going to be out shortly like a Normal Functional Human,]

[inutilis]

[ he tipped her $4.20. (nice.)

...
....
.....

Abel is poking his head up from beneath the table, mumbling softly to himself about how WILY this napkin that he juuuust can't seem to get ahold of is, haha, w-wow, haha--

...oh, is the weirdo gone?? ]

C-Ciel? Is the coast clear--? [ he is whispering so LOUD that even if Joshua had stayed behind, surely he'd hear it. thankfully, Joshua is not still here. thankfully. ]

[septieme]

[Joshua is Gone, yes. ...Isn't Joshua a name with Biblical roots too, come to think of it--

She finally drops her waving hand back to her sides, and shifts her glance towards the Human Statue (Crouched Ver.) that's starting to rise from beneath the table.]

Yes, Father. ...And ah, please watch your cassock. You'll get it dirty like that, and no one's mopped the floor today yet.

[She may or may not be acting as if Joshua was never here. The post-it note he left with his number on it is absolutely still at the counter in front of her, however...]

[inutilis]

D-does that sort of thing happen to you often...?

[ getting HIT ON... wow, mortifying, being a cute girl sure must be tough...... Abel is crawling out from his table-perch and giving a bit of stretch, now!! goodness. ]

...He was, um. Earnest? I suppose?

[ a..... aha. ha. ]

[septieme]

It's the first time here, but that sort of thing is normal on campus. The Japanese are far more subtle at it, but teenagers in general can't help it, you know? [She almost sounds empathetic... And almost as if she's excluding herself from the 'teenager' group, what could she mean by that?] Mm, you could say that. Is that your impression of him, Father? [She's looking at him curiously, now. Yes do tell, what does dog #1 think of dog #2? 🤔]

[inutilis]

[ he IS curious how old she is... some of her mannerisms don't quite line up with how young she looks, sometimes. but others, she seems perfectly suited to it. hard to puzzle out, isn't it...?

but after an idle stretch, he meanders toward the counter with his empty mug to hand to her. ]

My impression of him? Ah, well-- I'm not certain what I would say, other than-- um. Y-you know, he seemed like a-- nice boy? Kind of... quiet? --But nice!

[ WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO SAY, HERE, OKAY HE IS TRYING TO BE POLITE... ]

[septieme]

[oh NO... She can't help but giggle girlishly as she graciously accepts his empty mug, yeah just a "uni" student here who recited the Lord's prayer for an éclair with her eyes closed, nothing strange or off about her whatsoever,]

Goodness. From how you're acting, it's as if he gave you a harder time despite not looking your way even once the entire time he was here. Would you like some cold water to drink, by the way?

[inutilis]

[ yes precisely!!! she fits right in with the lunatics sort of folk Abel is friends with back home, honestly!!! perfect!! its like home!!! it's like she is--

...wait 🤔 hmm.

clearing his throat and once more prodding at those lenses, the priest gives a decidedly grateful nod of his head in acceptance of her offer. ]

Ah, I am suddenly feeling a bit parched; how could you tell...? You really are a lifesaver, Ciel. --Um, but what were we talking about before....? Weren't you going to tell me about your time abroad...?

[ he is a dog

with a bone. and that bone is Deets. ]

[septieme]

Yes, yes. Just give me a moment to put this away, okay?

[Turning her back to him to rinse out and refill his mug with tap water, she then slides it back to him across the counter with a wink before picking up the post-it note Joshua so awkwardly earnestly left behind. Without further ado, she's sauntering towards the back.

And just as her figure disappears, the door to the shop is opening once more. This time a woman with curly hair in her mid twenties chewing gum and wearing earbuds is entering, and she doesn't spare a single glance to Abel as she makes straight for the side counter door leading to the employees area, soon disappearing to the back as well.

...Ciel DID mention her shift was finishing soon, it's about that time, isn't it? 🤔 Will he behave patiently wait...]

[inutilis]

[ Abel is taking his glass of water to patiently re-seat himself at the table to Wait. he knows this trick!!! STAY, right?? wow haha yes he can do it, just look at him go!! ...or NOT go, in this case, since the order was stay. not go. he is staying. obediently.

his eyes curiously follow the new arrival, though-- and he is opening his mouth to offer some kind of greeting when the woman just brushes right on by him and toward the back. o-oh... right, then. the next shift? Ciel must be getting ready to leave, in that case. well-- that's a relief... he isn't sure what in God's name he would've done if the next patron of this fine establishment had been even more awkward than the last, honestly...... ]

[septieme]

[Putting something away shouldn't take longer than a minute, heck even a minute may be TOO long. Alas, it'll be a minute, then two, then three... There IS an old-fashioned clock with hands mounted on one of the walls, and it'd have been closer to five minutes, when Ciel finally emerges by herself from the back once more.

...She looks a bit frazzled (maybe even nervous?), but keeps her chin up as she makes her way back to the cash register. A few presses of buttons and a turn of keys later, and she's taking out the cash drawer while offering him a sheepish smile.]

Can you please go wait outside, Fa... er, mister? It'll be about... 15 minutes, I think!

[It'd be nice if he could bring over his mug but w/e, she'll just have to go pick that one up herself before leaving. Shouldn't take long either way, yeah!]

[inutilis]

[ Abel was beginning to wonder if something had Happened, and upon catching a glimpse at Ciel's expression when she makes her reappearance, that thought only seems to grow??? hm,

he is getting to his feet none-the-less, and not wanting to be more of a nuisance than he's already been, nods obligingly. ]

R-right! Right, I can wait outside. Um-- is everything okay?

[ j-just checking... does she, like. need help or anything...... ]

[septieme]

[Ciel just nods along with her sheepish smile...]

Yes! Please and thank you!

[She's then disappearing to the back once more along with the cash drawer she took out, and a few seconds later, the same woman he saw before is reappearing to the front. Donned in the pink and white apron of the shop with her curly hair tied up in a high ponytail, she's carrying a cash drawer of her own to place into the empty cash register. Definitely a veteran, this one: she's sporting a clear nameplate with "Hannah" printed on it.

Is he still lingering, or has he already made his way out the door? Because she will be looking around the store once she's locked in her cash drawer, and if their gazes cross, hers is one that clearly says "why is there a loser dude dressed in a super fancy cassock/some priest cosplayer or something loitering in the shop??"

'Hannah' won't verbally say a word, however. Just... look very judgmental. Also the music in the shop has changed in the meanwhile to some modern rock and pop, replacing the quiet silence of before. Someone has radio privilege, it would seem! It's currently playing some song about numbers and calling, and he may just be leaving Duncan's Donuts with that as the backdrop. What a coincidence considering the last customer that surely Hannah could NOT have known about, right?? H-haha...

So is Abel risking more hideous NPC local encounters, or will he be a GOOD BOY and wait outside as asked...]

[inutilis]

[ sometimes? Abel is like an unruly child and seem absolutely tasked with the desire to do the opposite of what he's told to do at any given instant. but others, he is a surprisingly obedient dog man who heeds the requests of others with great thoughtfulness and care not to make life more difficult for them!!! wow, so fortunate Ciel is on the receiving end of one of his Obedient moods, today. (the hot chocolate probably helped a great deal.)

thus, he is almost right away trotting to mill outside of the café, hands buried in his pockets and whistling a cheery tune to himself as he waits for his newfound friend...

...you know, inconspicuous """fake?""" priest, nothing to see here, folks,

.......he definitely doesn't all but have his nose nosily pressed up against the glass while he waits to see some sign of Ciel coming, n-no, who would do that, ]

[septieme]

[The quickest way to a man's heart is really thru his ribcage stomach, huh... smh

THAT IS! Hannah is very much giving Abel the stink eye from inside the shop, but only a few times before her attention is diverted back to stuff inside the store. As long as Abel and his lanky ass don't get in the way of customers, she probably won't have to come outside or call the cops. ...And there WILL be a teenager couple looking all lovey-dovey coming in before Ciel is seen again, the girl giggling like the literal high school girl she is and the guy dropping corny lines about his "sugar baby" while they've got their arms linked like newlyweds. They're happy to act as if Abel doesn't exist, as long as he's not obstructing the way to the entrance...

...

But yes. After closer to 20 minutes, Ciel is finally stepping out in casual clothes that would have her easily blend in with any other group of college or university students in town: a gray hoodie, knee-length skirt, black leggings, and ankle-length brown boots. She's got a messenger bag slung on one shoulder, while hugging onto a doggy paper DUNCAN'S DONUT bag in her other arm.

--Oh, and she's also wearing glasses now. That makes two of them!]

--Thank you for waiting! We shouldn't hold up the entrance, let's go?

[Delivered chipper and bright as if the awkwardness back inside never happened, she's totally not rushed either, nah. Will he follow along as she starts walking away, or does he need his hand literally held...?]

[inutilis]

[ o-oh... so, she's undergone some sort of transformation sequence in the back room, is that it...? Abel is, at the very least, well and ready for her by the time she appears-- even holding the door ajar for her when she makes her exit. composed, now... hm. quite curious~! ]

Of course...! R-right.

[ it seems this dog priest is used to being led around by the nose, because he is diligently trotting to keep up with Ciel in the next beat; he is long and lanky and it doesn't take much to fall into step beside her. ]

Um-- Miss Ciel... is everything alright? You were looking a bit... um... well, that's...

[ HMMMmmm... he isn't quite sure what to call it, precisely-- so he merely tilts his head inquiringly and waits to see if, perhaps, she's caught on despite it. ]

[septieme]

[No she's just blending IN, dummy, yanno the thing he's NOT doing? Still wearing his professional master class cosplay tier cassock and the Large and In Charge rosary that could absolutely kill more than just A Man, smh. It's 2021 grandpa, get on with the times!

She gives him a placating smile, slightly sheepish but unmarred otherwise.]

Hannah is apparently strict and doesn't have much patience, so getting out of her hair as soon as possible was best for both of us. [The polite way of saying "I-don't-wanna-get-in-shit-for-harbouring-a-hobo-fake-priest-and-letting-him-loiter-around-too-long-which-might've-chased-away-customers", but details.]

Anyway, I would ask if you had somewhere else to be now, Father, but I don't think you would have offered to wait for me if you did. [Something also tells her he's waiting more for what she has in her arms, but treats can come later after more pressing matters are seen to.] If you have no plans, then shall we get on to finding you more suitable clothing for these times first?

[inutilis]

...Oh? Oh... --Oh.

[ Abel just went through several different phases of realization, there; the last one ends on concern and a bit of an admonished look. ]

I didn't get you in trouble, did I...? I mean-- I can buy something, next time~! I'll be your best customer...! Miss Hannah won't have any room for complaint if that's the case, right? I'll buy fifty eclairs~!

[ sighs heavily he just wants to buy fattydingdong things.

at least he is moving on as she does, clearing his throat as he keeps step with her away from the cafe and into the streets of Gloucester. ]

But... hey, Ciel... is it really alright for you to be doing this kind of thing? I mean, if you've got something else to do, I understand-- of course. It's, ah... a bit rude of me to hog up your free time after work, and yes... that revelation might be coming to be a bit belatedly, but please forgive me my trespasses... Sometimes I get a bit carried away, that's all! I'm not really used to being able to loiter as I please, so...

[ w-whoops 🥲 look, he's just making sure she isn't too nice to say 'go lay down, boy, shoo' or something...... ]

[septieme]

[She's holding onto the paper bag in both her arms now, her pace a brisk gait him and his longer and lanky af legs very much won't have any trouble in keeping up with.]

Do you even have acceptable currency, if you've only been here for two or three days? ADI pays us with prepaid debit cards, for the record, yet if I didn't know any better, I could've sworn you were digging through your pockets for loose change or something...

[Totally not dodging his question of whether or not this gross stray hobo priest got her in trouble, motoring right on--]

Hm? How would it not be? We've all been rather suddenly transferred to new jobs here, and upended from our previous routines, that should give everyone more free time if anything, as you're already correctly surmised. [Hobo priest loiterer...] I'm surprised to hear you ask, though. Judging by your earlier entrance, you didn't seem like the sort that would become preoccupied by the convenience and availability of other people. What brought on the change of heart, Father?

[Is she calling him obnoxious with no regard to others' personal space or comfort, but politely? She may be doing just that, maybe,]

[inutilis]

[ mention of 'currency' has Abel digging into his pockets again; he is pulling out a few small dinars, jingling them in his palm demonstratively. ]

Old habits die hard, I suppose? As it turns out, these don't get me all too far in America, you're right, Ciel! [ sheepish though his smile may be as he re-pockets his 'change,' Abel may just be looking at her with a vague sense that he is Thinking.......

HMMM...

...but whatever it is, he is seemingly tucking it away with the rest of his secret note-taking to humor her motoring ons, ]

W-well, I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I've taken up quite a good bit of your time, and... ah, you know-- I'm giving you a polite out of babysitting me any further for the day! You know, if you've suddenly remembered some pressing business you have to attend to, I won't be offended~!

[ contrary to popular belief, Abel is actually a self-aware obnoxious creature.......... ]

Maybe I'm simply in a good mood? Or maybe the little angel on my shoulder has finally managed to gain ground over the little devil, Miss Ciel? We all have our demons-- as a woman who seems so well-versed in the teaching of our Lord and savior, certainly you're acquainted with the subject... Have you inspired me to conquer mine...? Ah, food for thought, perhaps!